In the Supreme Court of Georgia

Decided: April 19, 2021

S21Y0652, S21Y0654, S21Y0655, S21Y0657, S21Y0658. IN THE 

MATTER OF CYNTHIA ANN LAIN (five cases).

PER CURIAM.

These disciplinary matters are before the Court on the reports 

and recommendations of Special Master Michael J. Blakely, Jr., who 

recommends that Cynthia Ann Lain (State Bar No. 705135), a 

member of the Bar since 2007, be disbarred as a result of five State 

Disciplinary Board matters, each pursued in a separate formal 

complaint. In connection with these matters, the Special Master 

concluded that Lain violated Rules 1.2 (a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (a), 1.16 (d),

3.1 (b), 3.2, 3.3 (a), 3.5 (d), and 8.4 (a) (4), of the Georgia Rules of 

Professional Conduct found in Bar Rule 4-102 (d). The maximum 

penalty for a violation of Rules 1.2, 1.3, 3.3, and 8.4 (a) (4) is 

disbarment, while the maximum penalty for the remainder of the 

rules is a public reprimand. Because Lain has engaged in a pattern 
2

of serious misconduct that includes contempt of court and contempt 

for the disciplinary process, we agree that disbarment is the 

appropriate sanction. 

1. Procedural history of disciplinary proceedings. 

The State Bar filed a formal complaint in each of these matters 

in January 2019, and Lain filed an answer in each matter in April 

2019. Thereafter, the Special Master entered an initial scheduling 

order and the Bar served interrogatories, requests for admissions, 

and requests for production of documents on Lain. However, Lain 

failed to respond adequately to the Bar’s requests, and her response 

to the Bar’s requests for admissions became the subject of a 

discovery dispute. The Special Master attempted to resolve the 

dispute by issuing a discovery deadline order, but Lain still failed to 

comply with the discovery order and never supplemented her 

responses to the Bar’s discovery requests. 

The Bar filed three motions to compel, and in December 2019, 

the Special Master entered orders on the motions to compel, 

directing Lain to comply with her discovery obligations. Lain failed 
3

to comply, and the Bar filed a motion for sanctions. Lain then filed 

a frivolous motion to dismiss the Bar’s complaints on the ground 

that they were not timely prosecuted. The motion to dismiss was 

denied, and following a show cause hearing on the matter, the 

Special Master found that Lain failed to show why her answers 

should not be stricken. In addition, although Lain had agreed to 

attend a deposition in January 2020, she failed to appear, leading

the Bar to file a second motion for sanctions. 

The Special Master said that Lain’s conduct in the underlying 

actions, as discussed in more detail below, was consistent with her 

approach to these disciplinary proceedings, in which she refused to 

participate in discovery in good faith, failed to respond to motions, 

failed to attend scheduled status conferences or hearings, and 

attempted to advance factual and legal positions inconsistent with 

the facts and law governing the proceedings. The Special Master

determined that her conduct was so consistent and pervasive that, 

at best, it could be characterized as a reckless disregard for the 

disciplinary process and those involved in it, and at worst, an 
4

intentional effort to avoid or delay the process. Accordingly, in April 

2020, the Special Master entered an order granting the Bar’s first 

motion for sanctions and ordering that Lain’s answer to each formal 

complaint be stricken and that all facts alleged in the Bar’s formal 

complaints be deemed admitted. 

2. Facts and Special Master’s conclusions of law. 

(a) Case No. S21Y0652. 

(i) Facts. In State Disciplinary Board Docket (“SDBD”) No. 

7111, the facts as deemed admitted by Lain show the following. Lain 

was retained to represent a client in October 2016 in a modification 

of custody, child support, and visitation case in Clayton County, 

where the client lived. Before retaining Lain, the client was a pro se 

defendant in the case, which had been transferred sua sponte from 

DeKalb County Superior Court to Clayton County Superior Court, 

and the client had been ordered to pay monthly child support to the 

plaintiff starting in September 2016. In late October 2016, Lain filed 

an entry of appearance, a motion to dismiss, and an objection to the 

plaintiff’s stipulation that the case was ready for trial. The plaintiff 
5

then filed a motion for contempt after the client failed to pay child 

support. A motions hearing was scheduled to be heard in December 

2016; however, it had to be rescheduled twice after Lain failed to 

appear without providing any prior notice to the court. 

Following the hearing, the court entered an order denying the 

motion to dismiss and objection to plaintiff’s stipulation, finding that 

the filings were frivolous and without merit and ordering Lain and 

her client to pay attorney fees within 60 days pursuant to OCGA § 

9-15-14 (b). In the motion to dismiss, Lain had requested that the 

court dismiss the entire case for the sole reason that the case 

originated in the wrong county, despite its proper transfer, and the 

court found that Lain could not articulate any law that would allow 

for such a drastic decision. In the objection to plaintiff’s stipulation, 

Lain argued that discovery was incomplete; however, when the court 

inquired as to when discovery was requested, Lain admitted that 

she never requested discovery. The court also entered an order on 

plaintiff’s petition for contempt, finding that the client was in 

contempt for failure to pay the court-ordered child support and 
6

requiring her to pay, in addition to the monthly child support 

amount, an additional $50 per month toward the arrearage accrued 

and $70 per month to the plaintiff’s counsel. The client complained 

to the court that Lain never discussed the merits of the case or the 

implications of the filed pleadings.

In June 2017, another motion for contempt was filed, and the 

court issued a rule nisi for Lain and the client to appear to show 

cause as to why they should not be held in contempt for nonpayment 

of the court-ordered attorney fees and child support. Lain failed to 

notify the client of the hearing, and neither she nor the client 

appeared. The court issued another rule nisi for Lain to appear, but 

once again she failed to appear, and the court found her in contempt. 

Lain has not paid the outstanding attorney fees. 

(ii) Conclusions of law. The Special Master concluded that Lain 
7

violated Rules 1.3,

1 1.4,2 and 3.1 (b).3 Specifically, the Special Master 

held that Lain violated Rule 1.3 by failing to act with reasonable 

diligence when she failed to appear for scheduled court appearances 

without notifying the court in advance, resulting in the court finding 

her in contempt and assessing attorney fees against her and her 

client and causing detriment to her client. See In the Matter of 

 

1 Rule 1.3 says: “A lawyer shall act with reasonable diligence and 

promptness in representing a client. Reasonable diligence as used in this rule 

means that a lawyer shall not without just cause to the detriment of the client 

in effect willfully abandon or willfully disregard a legal matter entrusted to the 

lawyer.”

2 Rule 1.4 says: 

(a) A lawyer shall: (1) promptly inform the client of any decision or 

circumstance with respect to which the client’s informed consent, 

as defined in Rule 1.0 (h), is required by these rules; (2) reasonably 

consult with the client about the means by which the client’s 

objectives are to be accomplished; (3) keep the client reasonably 

informed about the status of the matter; (4) promptly comply with 

reasonable requests for information; and (5) consult with the client 

about any relevant limitation on the lawyer’s conduct when the 

lawyer knows that the client expects assistance not permitted by 

the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct or other law. 

(b) A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably 

necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions 

regarding the representation. 

3 Rule 3.1 (b) says in pertinent part: 

In the representation of a client, a lawyer shall not . . . knowingly 

advance a claim or defense that is unwarranted under existing 

law, except that the lawyer may advance such claim or defense if 

it can be supported by good faith argument for an extension, 

modification or reversal of existing law.
8

Briley-Holmes, 304 Ga. 199, 200 (815 SE2d 59) (2018) (holding that 

an attorney violated Rule 1.3 by failing to follow through with a case 

for her client); In the Matter of Levy, 284 Ga. 281, 282 (664 SE2d

195) (2008). The Special Master also concluded that Lain violated 

Rule 1.4 (a) by failing to notify her client of scheduled court 

appearances, resulting in attorney fees being assessed to her client 

and a finding of contempt by the court. See In the Matter of Brantley, 

299 Ga. 732, 733, 735 (791 SE2d 783) (2016) (holding that an 

attorney violated Rule 1.4 where she failed to communicate with her 

client regarding pending court appearances); In the Matter of 

Murray, 295 Ga. 71, 72 (757 SE2d 134) (2014) (holding that an 

attorney violated Rule 1.4 when he failed to notify his client about 

hearings). Finally, the Special Master concluded that Lain violated 

Rule 3.1 (b) when she knowingly filed a frivolous motion to dismiss. 

See In the Matter of Rolleston, 282 Ga. 513, 513 (651 SE2d 739) 

(2007) (holding that an attorney’s repeated filing of frivolous actions 

violated Rule 3.1); In the Matter of Morales, 282 Ga. 471, 472 (651 

SE2d 84) (2007). 
9

(b) Case No. S21Y0654. 

(i) Facts. In SDBD No. 7112, the facts as deemed admitted by 

Lain show the following. In 2016, Lain was retained to represent a 

client who was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol 

in Henry County. The arraignment hearing was scheduled for 

December 2016, and Lain was to attend with her client. On the day 

of the hearing, the client announced to the presiding judge, the 

Honorable James Chafin, that she retained Lain to represent her on 

the criminal charges; however, there was no record that an entry of 

appearance had been filed, and Lain failed to appear for the hearing. 

The client contacted Lain by telephone, and Lain sent an email to 

Judge Chafin’s staff attorney advising that she could not attend the 

hearing because she had “pink eye.” Judge Chafin continued the 

hearing until January 2017, and Lain filed an entry of appearance. 

On the day before the rescheduled arraignment hearing, she filed a 

not guilty plea, waiver of formal arraignment, and request to waive 

personal appearance at arraignment, which excused Lain and her 

client from appearing at the arraignment hearing. The clerk then 
10

notified Lain and her client of the dates for the pretrial hearing and 

jury trial. 

On the date of the pretrial hearing, the client attended the 

hearing, but Lain failed to appear and did not file a conflict letter.

At the instruction of the court, the client contacted Lain by 

telephone and learned that she was at least an hour away from the 

courthouse. The pretrial hearing was rescheduled, and the court 

issued a rule nisi for the same day to address Lain’s failure to 

appear. Lain appeared at the rescheduled hearing with her client,

who entered a guilty plea and was sentenced on the criminal 

charges. After sentencing, Lain appeared for the rule nisi hearing 

and claimed she never received notice of the first hearing. The court 

found her in contempt for failing to appear and ordered her to pay a 

fine of $100 by the next morning. However, she failed to pay the fine 

by the deadline and did not communicate any reason for the 

nonpayment. Judge Chafin then issued a new rule nisi for Lain to 

appear on May 3, 2017, to show cause why she should not be held in 

contempt for failing to pay the fine. The day prior to the show cause 
11

hearing, Lain filed a notice of conflict, claiming that she could not 

appear for the hearing because she started a jury trial in Fulton 

County. Judge Chafin’s administrative assistant contacted the 

Fulton County court and learned that the jury trial Lain cited in 

conflict had in fact been resolved on May 2. 

After Lain failed to appear for the rule nisi hearing, the court 

entered a contempt order and issued a bench warrant for her. Lain 

then filed a notice of appeal and a motion for supersedeas, which 

caused an automatic stay of the contempt order pending the appeal. 

A few days later, during an appearance before another judge in 

Henry County State Court, Lain was arrested on the bench warrant. 

Through counsel, Lain filed an emergency motion seeking a writ of 

supersedeas from the Georgia Court of Appeals, which was granted,

and Lain was released from the bench warrant. 

Judge Chafin later entered an order dismissing Lain’s appeal

for failure to request and properly file a transcript as required by

OCGA § 5-6-42. Lain filed a notice of appeal from the order 

dismissing her appeal, and Judge Chafin issued a rule nisi for Lain 
12

to appear for a show cause hearing. Lain appeared, and the following 

day the court issued an order, holding that Lain was to send a 

transcript request to the court reporter for the hearings she wanted 

included in her second appeal. As ordered, Lain filed a request for 

transcripts citing the specific hearings she wanted included in her 

appeal. The court reporter responded with the preparation costs for 

those transcripts, and Lain filed a petition to proceed in forma 

pauperis (IFP) and requested a hearing on the matter. However, 

Lain failed to appear for the hearing on her IFP petition and, 

instead, sent an email requesting a continuance of the hearing. In 

response, the court issued a bench warrant for her arrest and issued 

a new rule nisi for a hearing, where Lain was to show cause why she 

failed to appear for the hearing on her IFP petition and why she 

requested a continuance. Lain failed to appear for that hearing as 

well, and the court therefore issued another bench warrant.

Lain then filed a motion for supersedeas under OCGA § 5-6-13, 

requesting that the court stay the arrest orders issued against her,

and a notice of appeal from the last rule nisi issued against her. On 
13

the same day, she filed a suggestion of bankruptcy and suggested 

that the case pending in state court be stayed by operation of 11 USC 

§ 362. The Georgia Court of Appeals granted Lain’s emergency 

motion for supersedeas, and Judge Chafin entered an order denying 

her petition to proceed IFP due to her failure to appear to prosecute 

her petition. Because she did not pay appeal costs within 30 days, 

Judge Chafin entered an order dismissing her second appeal for lack 

of prosecution. 

(ii) Conclusions of law. Based on her conduct, the Special 

Master concluded that Lain violated Rules 1.2 (a),

4 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (a),5

 

4 Rule 1.2 (a) says in relevant part: “[A] lawyer shall abide by a client’s 

decisions concerning the scope and objectives of representation and, as 

required by Rule 1.4, shall consult with the client as to the means by which 

they are to be pursued.” 

5 Rule 1.5 (a) says in relevant part: “A lawyer shall not make an 

agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee or an unreasonable 

amount for expenses.”
14

1.16 (d),

6 and 3.2.7 The Special Master concluded that Lain violated 

Rule 1.2 (a) when she failed to consult with her client about her case, 

causing the client to attend her arraignment hearing without 

counsel present. See In the Matter of Stewart, 301 Ga. 227, 230 (800 

SE2d 279) (2017) (holding that an attorney violated Rule 1.2 (a) by 

failing to consult and communicate with clients). In addition, the 

Special Master concluded that Lain violated Rule 1.3 when she 

failed to promptly attend scheduled court appearances and notify 

her client of any delays in attending court appearances. See 

Brantley, 299 Ga. at 733. The Special Master also concluded that 

Lain violated Rule 1.4 (a) when she failed to appear in court on 

behalf of her client on multiple occasions without notice to her client 

or to the court, which caused delay and detriment to her client’s case.

 

6 Rule 1.16 (d) says: 

Upon termination of representation, a lawyer shall take steps to 

the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interests, 

such as giving reasonable notice to the client, allowing time for 

employment of other counsel, surrendering papers and property to 

which the client is entitled and refunding any advance payment of 

fee that has not been earned.

7 Rule 3.2 says: “A lawyer shall make reasonable efforts to expedite 

litigation consistent with the interests of the client.”
15

See In the Matter of Kerr, 302 Ga. 126, 127 (805 SE2d 15) (2017) 

(holding that a lawyer violated Rule 1.4 when he failed to keep his 

client informed about the status of the client’s legal matters); In the 

Matter of Brown, 294 Ga. 722, 722 (755 SE2d 742) (2014). 

Next, the Special Master determined that Lain’s lack of 

performance and failure to meet reasonable expectations resulted in 

the collection of an unreasonable fee from her client in violation of 

Rule 1.5 (a). See In the Matter of Burgess, 293 Ga. 783, 785 (748 

SE2d 916) (2013) (holding that an attorney violated Rule 1.5 (a)

where she represented a client during mediation but failed to 

communicate with him thereafter and did not refund unearned fees). 

The Special Master also concluded that Lain violated Rule 1.16 (d)

because, after accepting payment for the representation, she was 

expected to perform promptly and diligently on behalf of her client, 

but instead her lack of performance delayed the case, which should 

have resulted in a refund of unearned fees. See In the Matter of 

Starling, 297 Ga. 359, 362 (773 SE2d 768) (2015) (holding that an 

attorney violated Rule 1.16 (d) by failing to refund a fee that had not 
16

been earned). Finally, the Special Master concluded that Lain 

violated Rule 3.2 when she agreed to represent her client in a

criminal case but then caused unnecessary delay for several months 

by failing to communicate and to attend several court appearances. 

See Murray, 295 Ga. at 72 (holding that an attorney violated Rule

3.2 where he filed multiple documents in the wrong county and 

failed to take appropriate steps to correct those errors). 

(c) Case No. S21Y0655. 

(i) Facts. In SDBD No. 7113, the facts as deemed admitted by 

Lain show the following. In 2017, Lain was retained to represent a 

client on criminal charges that were filed in Henry County State 

Court. On May 2, 2017, the client appeared for a pretrial hearing 

before the Honorable Jason Harper; however, Lain failed to appear. 

After the hearing began, Lain sent an email to Judge Harper 

claiming that she could not appear because she was “going to the 

hospital,” and the court rescheduled the hearing for May 8. 

However, it was later discovered that Lain was not going to the 

hospital, but instead was in the same courthouse filing documents 
17

in the clerk’s office concerning an outstanding arrest warrant for 

herself. During the May 8 hearing, Lain did not provide any proof of 

being treated by a medical provider or hospital, or any proof as to 

why she missed the pretrial hearing. Judge Harper issued a rule nisi 

for June 20, to have Lain show cause why she should not be held in 

contempt for failing to appear at or file a conflict letter for the May

2 pretrial hearing, which left her client unrepresented and the court 

unable to hear her client’s case, and for failing to provide some 

documentation of the reason for her absence on May 2. Lain was 

personally served with the rule nisi on May 8, but failed to appear 

on June 20, and Judge Harper issued a bench warrant for her arrest.

In response to the arrest warrant, Lain filed a notice of appeal, 

a motion for supersedeas asserting that she had been adjudged in 

contempt by oral order of the court, and a motion to dismiss the 

bench warrant. A hearing was scheduled on her motions; however, 

she again failed to appear for the hearing. Judge Harper 

subsequently denied her motions, finding that they contained false 

information, including that she had been adjudged in contempt by 
18

oral order in this matter, and noting that an adjudication of 

contempt is a prerequisite for obtaining a supersedeas under OCGA 

§ 5-6-13 (a). 

On June 23, 2017, Lain’s client attended her rescheduled 

pretrial hearing, and a different attorney unknown to the client 

attended the pretrial hearing on behalf of Lain. Judge Harper told 

the attorney that the jury trial was set to begin on July 12, and that 

Lain was expected to be present. Lain did not appear for the jury 

trial, and the court had to reschedule it for July 27. Between July 12 

and July 27, Lain refused receipt of any mail from the Henry County 

State Court, including court notices and pleadings. On the day of the 

rescheduled trial, the client appeared and notified the court that she 

had not had contact with her attorney since the last court 

appearance, and the court granted the client’s request to appoint a 

new attorney. The client also requested that Lain fully refund her 

attorney fees. 

(ii) Conclusions of law. The Special Master concluded that Lain 
19

violated Rules 1.2 (a), 1.3, 1.4 (a), 3.2, 3.3 (a),

8 3.5 (d),9 and 8.4 (a) 

(4).

10 Specifically, the Special Master concluded that Lain violated 

Rule 1.2 (a) when she failed to consult and communicate with her 

client about the client’s case, including before pretrial hearings and 

the jury trial; that she violated Rule 1.3 by failing to promptly attend 

and communicate with the court regarding court appearances and 

to consult with her client about the status of the client’s case, see 

Brantley, 299 Ga. at 735; In the Matter of Williams, 274 Ga. 485, 486

(554 SE2d 496) (2001); and that she violated Rule 1.4 (a) by failing 

to notify her client about the status of her case or attend court 

 

8 Rule 3.3 (a) says: 

A lawyer shall not knowingly: (1) make a false statement of 

material fact or law to a tribunal; (2) fail to disclose a material fact 

to a tribunal when disclosure is necessary to avoid assisting a 

criminal or fraudulent act by the client; (3) fail to disclose to the 

tribunal legal authority in the controlling jurisdiction known to the 

lawyer to be directly adverse to the position of the client and not 

disclosed by opposing counsel; or (4) offer evidence that the lawyer 

knows to be false. If a lawyer has offered material evidence and 

comes to know of its falsity, the lawyer shall take reasonable 

remedial measures.

9 Rule 3.5 (d) says: “A lawyer shall not, without regard to whether the

lawyer represents a client in a matter . . . engage in conduct intended to disrupt 

a tribunal.”

10 Rule 8.4 (a) (4) says: “It shall be a violation of the Georgia Rules of 

Professional Conduct for a lawyer to . . . engage in professional conduct 

involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.” 
20

appearances, which was detrimental to her client’s case. See Kerr, 

302 Ga. at 126; Brown, 294 Ga. at 722. In addition, the Special 

Master concluded that she violated Rule 3.2 by agreeing to represent 

her client, but then failing to serve her client’s interests, see Murray, 

295 Ga. at 72; that she violated Rule 3.3 (a) when she filed a motion 

containing false information (i.e., that she had been adjudged in 

contempt by oral order when she had not); and that she violated Rule 

3.5 (d) when she attempted to mislead the court, failed to comply 

with court orders, and failed to appear for scheduled hearings. See 

In the Matter of Gaines, 307 Ga. 459, 460 (836 SE2d 82) (2019) 

(concluding that an attorney violated Rule 3.5 (d) where she failed 

to comply with a court order compelling her discovery responses and 

failed to appear in court for a contempt hearing). Finally, the Special 

Master concluded that Lain violated Rule 8.4 (a) (4) when she filed 

a motion containing false information in the hope of obtaining a 

supersedeas.

(d) Case No. S21Y0657. 

(i) Facts. In SDBD No. 7109, the facts show that Lain 
21

represented a client in a criminal matter in Muscogee County 

Superior Court before the Honorable Bemon McBride. During that 

representation, Lain failed to appear for a court hearing on January 

11, 2016. Judge McBride scheduled a hearing for January 26, to 

have Lain show cause why she should not be held in contempt for 

failure to appear. Lain filed a motion for continuance of the show 

cause hearing, citing medical reasons and the need to retain counsel. 

Judge McBride rescheduled the hearing, but Lain failed to appear 

and did not provide notice of her release from the medical concerns 

for which she sought the continuance. Judge McBride found that 

although Lain did not appear for the rescheduled hearing, she had 

appeared for other proceedings in Muscogee County since the date 

of her continuance request. After Lain again failed to appear for a 

rescheduled show cause hearing, Judge McBride entered an order

finding Lain in contempt and directing her to attend the Georgia 

Solo and Small Firm Institute at the State Bar headquarters on July 

14 and 15, 2017, and to pay $500 within 30 days as a contribution to 

the Georgia Legal Services Foundation. She was further ordered to 
22

self-report her contempt adjudication to the Bar’s Office of General 

Counsel. Lain failed to meet any of these requirements. 

In a different case, in which Lain represented a client on 

murder charges in Muscogee County, she failed to appear for the 

jury trial calendar on August 1, 2016. On that day, she sent an email 

to the presiding judge, the Honorable Ronald Mullins, indicating 

that she was the victim of a severe auto accident and was unable to 

attend the court appearance. Judge Mullins requested that she send 

a copy of the auto accident report within 10 days, but she failed to 

do so and never produced the accident report in these disciplinary 

proceedings. The murder trial began in March 2017, and Lain was 

late to trial on four occasions. After her client was found guilty, a 

sentencing hearing was scheduled in April 2017; Lain failed to 

appear and Judge Mullins rescheduled the hearing for May 2017.

Lain also did not appear at the May hearing, but a court deputy 

located her in the courthouse and notified Judge Mullins. Judge 

Mullins rescheduled the sentencing hearing for later that same day 

and Lain finally appeared. 
23

Based on her conduct, Judge Mullins sent a citation for 

contempt to Lain by regular U.S. Mail, certified mail return receipt 

requested, and by notification through email for her to show cause 

as to why she should not be held in contempt for her failure to appear 

for the criminal trial and sentencing hearing for her client. The only 

response received from Lain was an email sent to Judge Mullins’s 

administrative assistant saying, “Good afternoon, please be advised 

that this is not proper service and I am not waiving such service.” 

Lain failed to appear at the hearing, so Judge Mullins entered an 

order finding Lain in contempt and directing her to pay a total of 

$2,000 to the clerk of court within 30 days, to provide Judge Mullins 

with a copy of the accident report previously requested, and to selfreport her adjudication of contempt to the Bar’s Office of General 

Counsel within 15 days. Lain failed to comply with the order. 

(ii) Conclusions of law. The Special Master concluded that Lain 

violated Rules 1.3, 3.2, 3.3 (a), and 3.5 (d). The Special Master found 

that Lain violated Rule 1.3 and 3.2 when she failed to appear in 

court as scheduled in her two clients’ cases and failed to provide 
24

evidence to the court to excuse her absences. See In the Matter of 

Jennings, 305 Ga. 133, 134-135 (823 SE2d 811) (2019) (holding that 

an attorney violated Rules 1.3 and 3.2 where he abandoned his client 

and failed to attend hearings and comply with court orders); In the 

Matter of Garcia, 303 Ga. 537, 537-538 (813 SE2d 591) (2018). The 

Special Master found that Lain violated Rule 3.3 (a) when she 

misled the court regarding her reasons for failing to appear in court, 

noting that “knowingly” as used in Rule 3.3 (a) “denotes actual 

knowledge of the fact in question. A person’s knowledge may be 

inferred from the circumstances.” See Rule 1.0 (m). Finally, the 

Special Master found that Lain violated Rule 3.5 (d) by failing to 

comply with the court’s orders and failing to appear for scheduled

hearings. See Gaines, 307 Ga. at 459. 

(e) Case No. S21Y0658. 

(i) Facts. In SDBD No. 7110, the facts show that Lain was 

retained to represent a client in a child custody matter in Clayton 

County Superior Court. The client paid Lain a total of $3,450. Lain 

told the client that she would send the client a questionnaire to 
25

assist in preparing the case, which the client did not receive until 

five months later. After the client completed the questionnaire, Lain 

told the client that she would file the custody action within the next 

week. However, after months of failing to respond to the client’s 

inquiries, Lain informed the client that more information was 

needed. The client then terminated the relationship and demanded 

that Lain provide the client file and a refund. Lain did not return 

the client file, refund the fee, or file the custody action, and she failed 

to provide proof that she completed any work on behalf of the client.

(ii) Conclusions of law. The Special Master determined that 

Lain’s actions and omissions violated Rules 1.2 (a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (a), 

1.16 (d), and 3.2. The Special Master concluded that Lain violated 

Rule 1.2 (a) when she failed to consult with her client about her case, 

see In the Matter of Garnett, 278 Ga. 527, 528 (603 SE2d 281) (2004); 

that she violated Rule 1.3 when she failed to file the client’s custody 

action, noting that such a lack of diligence results in obvious 

prejudice to the client’s interests, see, e.g., In the Matter of 

Shearouse, 266 Ga. 848, 848 (472 SE2d 294) (1996); Rule 1.3,
26

Comment [3] (client’s interests often can be adversely affected by the 

passage of time); and that she violated Rule 1.4 when she failed to 

keep the client updated about the status of her case and failed to 

respond to her client’s numerous requests for an update on the case. 

See Murray, 295 Ga. at 72. In addition, the Special Master concluded 

that Lain violated Rule 1.5 (a) when she charged her client an 

unreasonable fee and did not perform work to earn the fee; that she 

violated Rule 1.16 (d) when she failed to return the client’s file and 

refund any unearned fee; and that she violated Rule 3.2 when she 

failed to perform work on the client’s case, including filing the

custody action. 

3. Special Master’s recommendation of discipline. 

In his reports, the Special Master explained that this Court 

looks to the American Bar Association’s Standards for Imposing 

Lawyers Sanctions (“ABA Standards”) for guidance in determining 

punishment in disciplinary cases. See In the Matter of Morse, 266 

Ga. 652, 653 (470 SE2d 232) (1996). The Special Master noted that 

the rules violated by Lain prescribe and proscribe some of the most 
27

important obligations and prohibitions to which a lawyer’s conduct 

must conform. The Special Master determined that disbarment is

generally appropriate (1) when a lawyer engages in a pattern of 

neglect with respect to client matters and causes serious or 

potentially serious injury to a client, see ABA Standard 4.41; (2) 

when a lawyer engages in intentional conduct involving dishonesty, 

fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation that seriously adversely reflects 

on the lawyer’s fitness to practice law, see ABA Standard 5.11 (b); 

(3) when a lawyer, with the intent to deceive the court, makes a false 

statement, submits a false document, or improperly withholds 

material information, and causes serious or potentially serious 

injury to a party, or causes a significant or potentially significant 

adverse effect on the legal proceeding, see ABA Standard 6.11; and 

(4) when a lawyer knowingly violates a court order or rule with the 

intent to obtain a benefit for the lawyer or another, and causes 

serious injury or potentially serious injury to a party or causes 

serious or potentially serious interference with a legal proceeding, 

see ABA Standard 6.21. 
28

The Special Master concluded that there were also aggravating 

factors applicable in these cases, collectively, including a dishonest 

or selfish motive, see ABA Standard 9.22 (b); a pattern of 

misconduct, see ABA Standard 9.22 (c); multiple offenses, see ABA 

Standard 9.22 (d); bad faith obstruction of the disciplinary 

proceedings by intentionally failing to comply with rules or orders of 

the disciplinary authority, see ABA Standard 9.22 (e); submission of 

false evidence, false statements, or other deceptive practices during 

the disciplinary process, see ABA Standard 9.22 (f); refusing to 

acknowledge the wrongful nature of one’s conduct, see ABA 

Standard 9.22 (g); and substantial experience in the practice of law, 

see ABA Standard 9.22 (i). The only mitigating factor the Special 

Master found applicable was the absence of any prior disciplinary

history, see ABA Standard 9.32 (a). 

In sum, the Special Master concluded that “the purpose of 

lawyer discipline is to act as ‘a penalty to the offender, a deterrent 

to others, and as an indication to laymen that the courts will 

maintain the ethics of the profession[.]’” In the Matter of Csehy, 295 
29

Ga. 853, 855 (764 SE2d 540) (2014) (quoting In the Matter of Dowdy, 

247 Ga. 488, 493 (277 SE2d 36) (1981)). In furtherance of these 

purposes, the Special Master recommends disbarment for Lain’s

violation of Rules 1.2 (a), 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (a), 1.16 (d), 3.1 (b), 3.2, 3.3 (a), 

3.5 (d), and 8.4 (a) (4) in these five disciplinary matters. See, e.g., In 

the Matter of Noriega-Allen, 308 Ga. 398, 398-399 (842 SE2d 1) 

(2020) (disbarring an attorney who failed to file a motion on behalf 

of her client, failed to respond to a motion for fees filed by another 

party, failed to appear at a hearing, and failed to respond to 

numerous requests for information by her client or return unearned 

fees); Jennings, 305 Ga. at 135 (disbarring an attorney who 

abandoned his client, intentionally concealed his misconduct, 

blatantly ignored a trial court’s order, and refused to participate in

the disciplinary process); In the Matter of Hamer, 302 Ga. 747, 748-

750 (808 SE2d 647) (2017) (disbarring an attorney who, among other 

things, knowingly failed to provide services to his clients and 

engaged in a pattern of neglect of client matters); In the Matter of 

Mann, 293 Ga. 664, 664-665 (748 SE2d 914) (2013) (disbarring an 
30

attorney who was held in contempt of court for repeatedly failing to 

appear for scheduled hearings in multiple client matters and who 

failed to refund unearned fees to one client). 

4. Conclusion. 

Having reviewed the record, we agree with the Special Master

that disbarment is the appropriate sanction for Lain, particularly

given the extent of her rule violations and her failure to engage 

honestly in the disciplinary process. Accordingly, it is hereby 

ordered that the name of Cynthia Ann Lain be removed from the 

rolls of persons authorized to practice law in the State of Georgia. 

Lain is reminded of her duties pursuant to Bar Rule 4-219 (b).

Disbarred. All the Justices concur.